Winter Wheels And Tires - What's Your Setup?

[Timothyd]

Haven’t had a chance to post much so finally getting around to sharing the winter setup I’ve been running since November.

Picked up a set of 17x7.5 RTX Ranch wheels on eBay for winter use. I liked that they looked somewhat ford OEM. And I wanted OEM center bore which had 63.4, didn’t wanna mess an around with hub rings ect. Wrapped them in Toyo Observe G3 Ice OEM sizing. Also the stock black ford center caps fit perfectly. Used ford open end lug nuts and installed some Amazon black lug nut covered to match it all up nicely.

Mini review on winter tires. Are they good for the money yes. I’d probably give them a 3.5 out of 5 stars but being I’ve had much better winter tires these are just ok. Positives are good traction out of the hole and decent braking and they’re actually pretty quiet for a snow tire. The negatives are they’re ultra mushy so at higher highway speed and winds you’re going to feel it. I don’t care for the turn in with the sipes are good in a straight line but when you turn there’s a feeling of unsettledness. Will they break loose, no…but it’s just that like I said I’ve had better winter tires like blizzaks and good years and many more to list, these don’t feel as confident. But in the end they’re great for what they are and you can stud them if you need to.

anyways what’s everyone else running for their winter setup? And how do you like the tires you’re running?

Was just looking at my snows today. The stock Continentals that came with my '24 XLT are good for the highway and that's about it. I got some slightly used steelies and mounted Blizzaks on them for the winter. They work great, had a snowstorm a couple of days ago and I just plowed on. I'll swap them off in a month or two for the Continentals again. Good layer of salt on everything now.

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[Timothyd]

I bought used steelies from a Bronco Sport for $300 and got a set of Vredstein Wintracs. Work great. Got a massive snow storm, state of emergency, ice was so bad my snowblower couldn’t clear driveway, etc. Truck drove through it all no problem. Actually it’s really boring, wish it could power slide a little better lol!

Huge fan of dedicated snow tires but got to say my wife’s Grand Cherokee with Michelin Cross Climate 2s does really well, too.

I like those Bronco Sport wheels but I couldn't find any. I miss the old brake lever in the console, I don't care for the electric brakes.

 

[tom_tucker]

For winter use, the steel wheel works in tandem with the winter snow tire. The heavier steel flexes with pot holes and bumps. It also covers the brakes so snow doesn't build up. It just generally lumbers through the snow better than an alloy. Call it the sacrificial lamb for winter abuse. I run XL steels and Mich X ICE SUV. My XLTs stay nice.

Not saying this is a bad setup at all though. Still gonna have the nice soft rubber grip.

 

[compactdan]

$100 steelies with OE sensors and Nokian Outpost nAT in a 255/65R17. Just got them setup over the weekend and will be testing in some snow this coming weekend. Stock height for now. So far no rubbing issues.

 

[Gaidheal]

Probably going to get winter tires and steelies for next year so threads like this will be handy to have bookmarked.

This year I'm just running the OEM contis and so far so good.

(I've always lived where we get snow - snow belt of southern Ontario, Northern Ontario, Labrador, PEI, etc) and only recently even tried snow tires a few years back. Well worth it for sure, but mostly not needed if you grew up not even knowing they existed. lol

 

[sprubs]

Probably going to get winter tires and steelies for next year so threads like this will be handy to have bookmarked.

This year I'm just running the OEM contis and so far so good.

(I've always lived where we get snow - snow belt of southern Ontario, Northern Ontario, Labrador, PEI, etc) and only recently even tried snow tires a few years back. Well worth it for sure, but mostly not needed if you grew up not even knowing they existed. lol

I find the OEM tires slip very easily. I did recently drive in snowy conditions with them and I had to be a lot more careful compared to my other vehicles in similar conditions. I still managed the 100+ mile drive in the snow without any close calls but if I needed to climb anything remotely steep from a dead stop I feel like I would have been in trouble.

 

[rk06382]

Last September (2025), I purchased my 225/55R19 studded snow tires before the first snow. I purchased four new Touren 19" wheels to mount my studded tires on for winter. I waited until the first snow in October before installing them. In the spring I will reinstall the OEM tires.

My new Touren 19" wheels:

One of my new 225/55R19 studded tires.

Winter is Here. Time for snow tires.

BRR.. Snow tires..

I am glad I installed studded snow tires.

A little snow......

Good thing I have fender flares & mud flaps.

 

[ScottyC]

Picked up a set of used steelies at $40 for the set. Got some OE TPMS sensors from eBay for $50 for a set of 5 (5th on on my workbench still) from a 2024 Bronco Sport. Got replacement valve stems for $3.00 a piece from NAPA (I always change the valve stem when I get new tires)....giga tire online sold me Dunlop Winter-MAXX SJ8 for $68 per tire (they were on sale there in June of 2025) even with shipping, it was cheaper than buying a used set off Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. Mount and balance at Pepboys $25 dollars per and got some cheap-o 17" wheel covers from eBay and away I go...the Lariat is an absolute beast in the snow and ice....stops on a dime, no slip or slide....

 

[AngryGoose]

I like the Goodyear equivalent to the CROSSCLIMATE2 tires. They've done well their first winter on the stock XL steelies.
I wanted a tire I could use year round if needed, and they've been great, only took a small mpg hit before winter tanked it

 

[Maverick_Dad]

The same ones I run the rest of the year

 

[710-oil-614]

Just 235 Wildpeak AT Trails but damn are they pretty solid in the snow.

The territory HT were fun from the standpoint that the vehicle was always slipping and sliding.

The Wildpeak AT Trails have been bang on through this major snow storm.

 

[51mavhatter]

Got my 23 XLT AWD ECO delivered in November 23 and immediately put Falken Wildpeak AT3's on the stock wheels for the winters here in Summit County CO. Left them on through the summer and winter of 24 and summer of 25 and still have enough tread for running for this winter. At 30000 miles as there is a second car in the family to use. Condo dweller so no room to store wheels and tires. I will run them through this summer of 26 and reshod the Maverick this November. Thinking of Nokiens next time. No trouble getting around with these tires and never have to get out of normal mode.

 

[Maverick Country Club]

Snow or Ice shows up on my roads I park my Maverick and drive my
2004 Ford Escape’
With 229,000 miles on he clock and a Fresh set of Chunky tread Faulkin Rubitreks.

Yep, at’s right !

Wisdom on display.

 

[LSchicago]

Same ones I use in the summer.

 

[TheRealEman]

I have the same Toyo Observe tires, just purchased, and have been impressed. FWD hybrid in Maine.

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